But, I really don't think it's unique to any breed or type of dog. And I do think there is this.....high horse? that herding breed people can get on. It seems like a cliquey group, but that could just be because I'm involved in that type so I see it more.

This. I think that pretty much all dog owners who are active in the dog world do this. I think it's half being part of the clique and half trying to keep 'their' breed out of the hands of irresponsible owners.

Now us mix owners... we're just confused.

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I definitely think it does depend on the person's personality probably more so than the dog's personality in most cases.

This.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Linds

But, I really don't think it's unique to any breed or type of dog. And I do think there is this.....high horse? that herding breed people can get on. It seems like a cliquey group, but that could just be because I'm involved in that type so I see it more.

And this too.

I think part of it is that herding breeds tend to be popular for sport and as a result people who want to be "top" in their sport of choice get a herding breed even though they aren't a great match and end up really struggling. And since they are performance folks ofter that struggle ends up being very public in the form of frustrating screaming banshee dogs.

But it's not just herding breeds. Gundog folks can be the same way. I've seen SO many people commenting that, for instance, FCRs are so over the top and so hard to train because they are high energy workaholics yet very soft...or that Labs are just impossible and so hard to own because they are crazed energy all day long...field golden, Weims, Vizslak, GSP, etc....in every case they have quite a rep and in every case people within the breed are sure their dogs take the most special and exceptional owners...in reality it's just that they need an owner who's the right match for the breed and individual...just like any dog...and that right match can take many many different forms.

Maybe it's not that the dogs are hard to deal with, maybe it's more that it's an owner who picked the wrong dog?

For me, Kharma -- definitely considered an extreme breed -- is the easiest dog I've ever lived with. That really includes Buffy and Shiva for that matter. Maybe if it's a good match the dog isn't "difficult?"

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It takes a certain kind of person to live with a herding breed, especially specific ones. That goes for many different dogs in different groups though.

^this.

You just have to know the breed, simple. Border Collie-type dogs are super easy for me, but give me a Beagle and it's like pulling teeth.

Personally, I don't understand why herding type dogs are labeled as quirky, hard, etc. But I sure don't question it with the general public. Whether it's training, breeding, whatever, Blaze is so easy! He's fun, he's cuddly, he's a listener, he's a go-anywhere type, he's quiet, he's fast, he's smart. He's just super easy for me. And most the herd-y dogs have been like that.

Maybe the majority of the dogs I'm around are herding dogs, so I don't know any other easy? lol